Game



M. PIESEN GAME Filed Jan. 12, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 way W BY A 0 R N EYI May 10, 1938.

M. PIESEN GAME Filed Jan. 12, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 M. PIESEN May 10, 1938.

GAME

Filed Jan. 12, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 %./INVENTQ I M. PIESEN May 10, 1938.

GAME

Filed Jan. 12, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVEW M1 PIESEN May 10, 1938.

GAME

Filed Jan. 12, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 @f a V s Patented May 10, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OF FiCE GAME Maurice Piesen, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application January 12, 1937, Serial No. 120,195

1 Claim.

My invention relates to a new and improved game.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a game of skill, which is played by pro- 6 jecting a slug or the like, which is caused to fall upon one of a number of targets.

Another object of my invention is to provide automatic means for scoring the accuracy with which the slug or other projectile is impelled.

Another object of my invention is to provide a game whereby a slug or other projectile is impelled along a guide which is continuously shifted with reference to a plurality of targets so that the skill of the operator is determined by the timing between the impelling of the projectile and the alignment of the moving guide with the target which represents the highest score.

Another object of my invention is to provide a simple and eflicient and practical device for this 201 purpose, which can be manufactured at low cost and which shall be reliable in operation.

Other objects, of my invention will be set forth in the following description and drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments thereof, it being understood that the above statement of the objects of my invention is intended generally to explain the same without limiting it in any manner.

Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of the improved game.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of Fig. 1.

Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively sectional views on the lines 3-4 and 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the device shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

Fig. '7 is an elevation, partially in section, on

the line 1-1 of Fig. 6 and it also includes a diagrammatic view of the circuits-which control the scoring device.

Fig. 8 is a front elevation, with the cover re moved, of the device for impelling the slug or other projectile. In this view, said impelling device is shown in the inoperative position.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 showing the parts in the position in which the slug is impelled or projected.

Figs. 10 and 11 and 12 are respectively sectional views on the lines Iii-4t, illl, and lZ-IZ of Fig. 8.

Fig. 13 is a detail perspective view, showing the means for releasing the slug or other projectile, after the actuating spring has been sulficiently compressed.

Fig. 14 is a sectional view on the line I l-I4 of Fig. 5.

Referring to Fig. 1, this shows a table I upon which a number of impelling devices 8 are suitably mounted.

Referring to Fig. 8, each said device 3 includes a casing 40 inwhich a slot E is provided. The casing of the device 3 may be provided with a removable cover 400 which is indicated in broken lines in Figs. 10 and 12. A slug S, which may have the shape of a disc, and which can be made of any suitable metal, can be introduced through the slot E.

As shown in Fig. 10, the casing of the member 3 comprises a casting 40b having a semi-cylindrical upright recess 40f. A supplemental guide member 52, shown in Fig. 11, is suitably connected to said casting Mlb, by means or" screws 52a or the like. A spring 5| is housed and guided in the vertical cylindrical recess which is thus formed. When the slug S is introduced into the casing through the slot El, said slug slightly enters the top of the space between the guide member 52, and the adjacent wall of the casting 4017. A short plunger 50 is guided in said vertical cylindrical recess and the top of said plunger 5|) abuts the bottom of the spring 5!.

In the position of the parts which is shown in Fig. 8, the spring 5| is unstressed and its top is spaced from the bottom of the slug S. An operating handle 42 is turnahly connected to said casing 40 by means of a pivot pin 4|.

Said arm t2 has a lug 43a. A spring 43b is connected to said lug 43a and to an interior lug of the casing 40, so that the spring 4312 normally holds the arm 42 in the position shown in Fig. 8. The arm 42 is provided with a web 43, having slots 44 and 49a. The plunger 50 is provided with a lateral rigid pin 49 which extends into the slot 49a.

Figs. 8 and 9 show a transverse lug 48b which is provided at the end of the lateral extension 48a, of a vertical rod 48. Said rod 48 is turnably mounted in a sleeve 48' which acts as a bearing for the rod 48.

At its lower end, the rod 48 has a transverse rigid extension 480, on which an anti-friction roller 45 is mounted. Said roller 45 enters the slot 44. A spring 46 is connected at one end to a lug 4'! which is rigidly connected to the inner wall of the casing 4i], and the other end of the spring 46 is connected to said transverse lug 48c,

' so that the rod 48 and its transverse lug 4819, are normally held in the position illustrated in Fig. 8.

In this normal position the transverse lug 481) does not overlie the slug S.

When the handle 42 is turned counterclockwise, from the position shown in Fig. 8 towards the position shown in Fig. 9, the cam slot 14 first operates to permit the spring 46 to turn the rod 48, so that the transverse lug 48b is moved to the operative position shown in Fig. 9, in which it obstructs the movement of the slug S, out of the casing M. This takes place before there has been any substantial compression of the spring 5|. The inclined slot A90. and the pin 49 then operate to raise the plunger 50 so as to compress the spring 5! against the slug S, as indicated in Fig. 9.

As the player turns the handle 42, in the counterclockwise direction, to the final position shown in Fig. 9, the lower end of the cam slot 44 opcrates to turn the rod 48 around its vertical axis, so that the transverse lug 48b is moved to a position in which it clears the slug S. The compressed spring 5i then ejects the slug S into a guideway 4 which is rigidly connected to the top of the casing 40. Said guideway consists of the slotted pipes 8 and 9. Rod 48 is held in its bearing against vertical movement.

As shown in Fig. 8, the left-hand wall of the slot 45 is formed with a shoulder. Hence, when the arm 62 is turned, together with its web 43, until said shoulder clears the roller 45, the spring 46 can turn the rod 48, so that the transverse lug 68b is immediately moved to its operative position, which is shown in Figs. 9 and 13. As the turning of the web 43 is continued, the inclined left-hand wall of the slot 44 operates to gradually turn the rod 38 to a position in which the transverse lug 48b clears the slug S, and said lug 48b reaches this inoperative position, just before the web 43 has been moved to the maximum extent shown in Fig. 9.

The width of the slot 44 can be greater than the exterior diameter of the roller 45.

The casing 40 is provided with a slot 4011, through which the arm 42 extends, and the ends of this slot serve as a stop to limit the movement of the arm 42 in order to prevent any stress from being exerted upon either the lug 49 or the roller 45. The web 43 has a flange 430.

The casing 40 is provided with one or more bottom brackets 48?), which can be connected by suitable screws or the like, to the table I.

Referring to Fig. 14, the pipes 8 and 9 are provided with adjacent slots 80. and 9a and the slug S is guided by the walls of said slots.

Referring to Fig. 5, the pipes i3 and 9 are made sufficiently flexible so that the exit or lefthand ends of said pipes 8 and 9 can be horizontally deflected, without being permanently bent or dis torted. The pipes 8 and 9 can be made with suitable thin metal walls for this purpose.

As shown in Figs. 5 and 14, each pair of pipes 8 and 9 are held, intermediate their ends, by means of a bracket 1 which fits around said pair of pipes 8 and 9 and which also extends between said pair of pipes. Said bracket 1 is provided with an upstanding integral rod 6, which extends slidably and turnably through an angular arm 5.

As shown in Fig. 1, said arm 5 extends upwardly from the rear of each of the figures 2.

The construction of the device is identical with reference to each figure 2 so that the description of one figure and its associated parts serves as a general description of the entire game. The rod 6 is provided with a spring [0, above the bracket or arm 5, and a nut II is provided at the upper threaded end 6a of the rod 6. One end of the spring abuts arm 5, and the other end of the spring abuts the vertically adjustable nut II. This provides a vertically movable and resilient support for the guide-pipes 8 and 9.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, a series of supports or figures 2 are provided, which are suitably connected to bottom supports T, which are spaced from the table I. The angular arms or brackets 5 have their lower ends connected to the rear walls of said figures or supports 2. Score boards I2 are also connected to the vertical branches of the arms 5.

Referring to Fig. 1, each of the figures 2 is provided with an arm having an elbow portion M which is pivotally connected at E5 to said arm. Referring to Fig. 1 and Fig. 3, each of said pivotally mounted elbows has a link l6 pivotally connected thereto at I5. Said link I6 is pivotally connected to a member ll which is connected to the pipes 8 and 9 adjacent their free ends. The member if is similar in construction to the member I which is shown in Fig. 14.

The elbows M are continuously oscillated by means of motor M.

As shown in Fig. 2, this motor M has its shaft provided with a drive pulley 31a, which is connected by means of belt 38, to a larger pulley 31. Said pulley 3'! is mounted upon a short shaft which is provided with a worm 32. Said shaft is mounted turnably in a housing 32a which is mounted upon a bracket 32b. Said bracket is suitably fastened to one of the supports T. The worm 32 drives a worm-wheel 35, and the shaft of said worm-wheel 35 has a crank arm 36 to which a link 36 is pivotally connected. Said link 34 serves to reciprocate a rod 3| in the direction of its longitudinal axis. Links 33 are pivotally connected to said reciprocating rod 3| and to the pivot pins l5 upon which the elbows M are mounted. The elbows M are thus continuously rocked, thus deflecting the exit ends of the guide-pipes back and forth over the scoring devices I8.

The maximum deflection of the guide-pipes is from one end target of a scoring device l8 to the other end target thereof.

In order to make it possible to deflect the outlet ends of the pipes 8 and 9 readily, said pipes are formed into loops as shown in Fig. 1.

The scoring devices i8 may be of any suitable type. Electrical scoring devices have been shown in this embodiment.

As shown in Figs. 6 and 7, each scoring device 18 is of box-like shape and each scoring device is provided with a series of metal contact levers 22 which are mounted upon a rod or shaft 20. In this particular embodiment, the scoring device includes sixteen indicating lamps 26, and sixteen contact levers 22 are provided upon each shaft 2!].

The shaft 20 and its metal contact levers 22 may be grounded at 30, although the grounding of said shaft 20 and its contact levers 22 is not necessary,

Referring to Fig. 6, each of the contact levers 22 comprises a relatively long arm 22a. and a relatively short arm 221). Each of 'the contact levers 22 is freely turnable relative to the rod or shaft 20.

In the normal position of the contact levers which is shown in Fig. 6, said contact levers are held in a substantially horizontal position, because the weights of the arms 22a over-balance the weights of the arms 221). A stop 22d is provided for each relatively long arm 22a in order to maintain the contact levers 22 in the normal position shown in Fig. 6.

When a slug is ejected from the pipes 8 and 9, it falls upon one of the short arms 2211, thus turning the contact lever 22 about 240, until the contact lever assumes the broken-line position shown in Fig. 6. In said position the longer arm 22a makes contact with a metal terminal member 24.

In the embodiment shown, there are sixteen separated terminal members or points 24, which are mounted upon a suitable insulating support 28. This support 28 is suitably fastened to the scoring device l8.

As shown in Fig. '7, each of the lamps 26 has one of its terminals connected to the first line wire 29. Each of the lamps 26 has its other terminal connected by means of suitable wires to one of the contacts 24.

The second line wire 29a is connected to the rod or shaft 20 so that the second line wire 29a is electrically connected to each of the contact levers 22.

Hence, when one of the contact levers 22 is turned to its operative position, one of the lamps 26 is illuminated, thus indicating the proper score.

The shaft 2!] is provided with a resetting loop 2!, and said shaft 20 may be turned by means of a hand wheel I9 which is made of insulating material. Upon turning the shaft 20 in unison with the loop 2!, by means of wheel [9, all the contact arms 22 can be reset to the initial position which is shown in full lines in Fig. 6.

The scoring device I8 is provided with a lower portion 3a in which the slugs are collected after they have actuated the contact levers 22, and said member l8a is provided with an exit throat 3b, which is controlled by means of a movable closure I80.

The scoring device includes boards l2 having the sixteen numbers N which are illuminated by the respective lamps 26, and each board l2 may be provided with a sheet of glass G which covers the lamps 26. The lamps 26 may be of different colors and they may be arranged in any desired color scheme.

Fig. 6 shows how the line wires 29 and 29a are assembled to form a cable in the usual manner, said cable being provided with the usual plug 28.

Fig. 6 also shows a conduit C, through which the branch wires of the circuit are led so that each branch wire can be connected to a terminal of a lamp 2B and to the respective contact 24.

Any suitable coin-controlled mechanism may be provided.

When the device is operated, there is a continuous relative movement between each guide and its target l8, so that the skill of the player is determined by the timing of the movement of the projectile. As indicated in Fig. 1, the respective target-levers may have different scoring values, and the scoring value may vary according to groups of target-levers 22, or it may be differ ent for each target-lever 22.

The invention covers any means for providing a relative movement between an impelling device and a target, or between an impelling device and a plurality or series of targets. It is not restricted to the use of guides between the impelling devices and the targets.

While I have shown impelling devices, the arms 42 may also be considered as constituting release devices or control devices for regulating the release of the slugs, and the invention covers all forms of impelling devices, release devices, control devices, etc.

Whenever I refer to manually controlled means for impelling a projectile, I also include control by the foot of the player, etc., and I include devices in which the player does not supply the force for impelling the projectile,

The contact-levers 22 are target elements which are sufficiently spaced so that the slug can operate only one of said levers. I do not wish to be limited to targets which are moved by the projectile.

For convenience, the members 24 may be designated as target-terminal members.

The short arms of members 22 clear the members 24 when members 22 are turned.

When pipes 8 and 9 are unflexed, they define what may be designated as the normal or main path of the projectile. The flexing of the resilient pipes deflects the projectile from said main path.

For example, it would not be departing from the invention if the impelling device was automatically oscillated or moved, so as to deflect the projectile from the normal main path through which the projectile would move, if the impelling device were held stationary.

In the embodiment shown, the lever 22 is biased by gravity to a normal circuit-opening position and it is also biased by gravity to remain in the circuit-closing position. Other biasing forces could be utilized.

I have shown preferred embodiments of my invention, but it is clear that numerous changes and omissions can be made without departing from its spirit.

I claim:

In a game of the class in which a projectile is impelled along a guide having a horizontally movable and depending outlet leg and having mechanism for moving said outlet leg horizontally to and fro over scoring keys and in which each key controls a circuit for operating an indicating device, the combination of scoring keys which are pivoted circuit-closing levers, each lever being connected to one end of the circuit of one of said indicating devices, each said lever being pivoted intermediate its ends so as to have a short leverarm and a long lever-arm, said levers being located in their circuit-opening and normal positions with their short arms under the path of movement of a projectile which is discharged downwardly from said depending outlet leg so that a coin which is discharged from said outlet leg falls upon one of said short arms, an abutment located underneath said long arms and upon which said long arms rest when said levers are in said normal positions, the other end of each said circuit being connected to a terminal member located underneath the respective lever, the distance between the pivot of each lever and its respective terminal member exceeding the length of the short lever-arm and being less than the length of the long lever-arm, whereby the lever is turned more than 180 from its normal position by said projectile until the centre of gravity of its long arm is below its pivot and said long arm then contacts with the respective terminal member to close the respective circuit.

MAURICE PIESEN. 

